Re: Northern elders for sale

From the aggressive tone of this article written by one Abu Najakku, it is clear that the Northern elders share an intolerant view towards altruistic opinions or calls for unity. To hold a contrary view to the way they view the world, one must apparently be a sell-out, expired or crazed.I wonder how anyone can […]

From the aggressive tone of this article written by one Abu Najakku, it is clear that the Northern elders share an intolerant view towards altruistic opinions or calls for unity. To hold a contrary view to the way they view the world, one must apparently be a sell-out, expired or crazed.
I wonder how anyone can be impressed by the call to violence by the leaders of NEF, especially Professor Ango Abdulahi who recently branded Goodluck Jonathan as the worst president Nigeria has seen. Is he the worst president of Nigeria due to the fact that he did not succumb to their selfish interests?
These leaders blame everybody but themselves. The years of decadence, poverty and begging being experienced in Northern Nigeria is sometimes blamed on southern politicians. So is the lack of reform in the Northern educational system.
The decline of the once famous and proud empire of Kanem Borno into an orgy of killing and violence is also pinned on President Goodluck Jonathan, spewing venom at every chance to defend themselves from the obvious truth that they have sat dormant for years, which can be said to be due to their yo-yoing attitude towards development in the north.
They have also failed to take any serious action towards political instability, illiteracy and insurgency in Northern Nigeria, which as elders of the northern community should be their main concern. The people of the North are in dire need of attention of its elders towards these issues.
The prehistoric way of thinking by NEF on matters that affect the north and Nigeria in general, is extremely worrying considering in all parts of Nigeria the youths look to their elders for guidance and wisdom.  To turn arguments into a northern or southern dichotomy is dangerous and extremely narrow-minded. The NEF seeks to heat up the polity and destabilise the newly formed Northern Elders Council (NEC) due to its fear of wide acceptance by the people of Nigeria particularly those who reside in the North whom the NEC seeks to give a voice to. NEC supports this current government because it believes in the One Nigeria project.
To me the NEC is courageous in breaking out of the mould of NEFs supposed representation and generalisation of the north. What is wrong with calling for unity, tolerance and the end to violence?  This is what I see in NEC and their current leader Malam Tanko Yakasai
Ahmed TIjjani [email protected]>;